Press Release

Institute of International Education Offers Emergency Assistance for Haitian Students on U.S. Campuses

Grants to Help Haitian Students in the U.S. to Continue Their Studies

NEW YORK, January 27, 2010—The Institute of International Education (IIE) has created an emergency grants program to help students from Haiti on U.S. campuses whose home country support has been seriously affected by the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Haiti Emergency Assistance for Students (EAS) will provide grants of up to $2,000 to undergraduates and graduate students from Haiti enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, who are facing serious financial difficulties due to the recent tragedy in their home country. For the first round of funding, accredited United States campuses will be invited to nominate up to 5 students at their institutions for whom help is immediately needed for the spring semester 2010. International Student Advisers or other campus officials are invited to submit nominations to IIE; students cannot apply directly. To nominate students, advisors should go to the IIE Haiti-EAS page.

According to IIE's Open Doors 2009 data, colleges and universities reported more than 850 students from Haiti studying in the United States, mostly at the undergraduate level. United States campuses have rallied to provide support, but more help is needed so that these students can complete their studies. To make these emergency grants, IIE will draw upon Institute funds designated by the Board of Trustees for this purpose, as well as donations from several foundations. To meet the full need, IIE is actively seeking additional funding from donors interested in providing emergency support for Haitian students in the United States.

Allan Goodman, president and CEO of IIE, said, "By providing emergency assistance to students from Haiti in the United States whose families are suffering so severely back home, our goal is to alleviate immediate financial burdens and provide a measure of security during these tragic times."

IIE has a long history of mobilizing support to help students and scholars in need throughout the world. IIE Chairman Thomas S. Johnson urged other donors to "join in this effort to assist in educating these future leaders whose talents will be so urgently needed in the months and years to come as Haiti begins to rebuild."

The first round of grant nominations should be submitted to IIE by February 12, 2010, with award notification the week of February 22. The total number of awards distributed will depend on the amount of funds available. If funding permits, IIE will call for a second round of nominations at the end of February.

To be considered for an Emergency Assistance award, the nominated student must:

Be a Haitian citizen

Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited U.S. higher education institution (enrolled as of January 1, 2010)

Be in good academic standing, as defined by the host campus

Have the appropriate non-immigration visa status (legal permanent residents and U.S. citizens are ineligible to apply.)

Demonstrate that the financial ability to continue their studies has been seriously disrupted by the January 2010 earthquake

U.S. host campuses nominating students for Haiti-EAS awards will be asked to indicate what emergency assistance they are able to provide to the nominated students through tuition waivers, full or partial scholarships, housing, stipends, loans, work study, or other forms of support.

For more information on IIE's Emergency Assistance program for Haitian students on U.S. campuses, see the IIE Haiti-EAS page.

About The Institute of International Education

The Institute of International Education is the world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1919, the Institute is the world's most experienced global higher education and professional exchange organization. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government and private sources.